The Vikings have already made five trades involving 2026 draft picks, so don’t let anyone tell you it’s too early for draft talk. One of those trades — the first time the Vikings acquired running back Cam Akers in September 2023 for a conditional late-round pick swap with the L.

Following the NFL Draft, groups are re-evaluating rosters and projecting them out as they get new looks and overhauls one last time before training camp and the preseason. The Vikings had one of the more confusing drafts, making their rise up the l atest ESPN power rankings interesting.

Several years ago, Leisz told his friends about wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who became a first-round pick for the Miami Dolphins. He also raved about Walker Little, now the starting left tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He coached both of those players. Personal experience fueled his intel. He spoke about Jackson with similar reverence.